Multiple zone control apparatus



May 9, 1950 P. v. M GIVERN MULTIPLE ZONE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 9,. 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a U illil H Ell gi /1471111 4? mall/ll I INVENTOR. PMKZ/kibem Q, MAJ

ATTORNEY.

May 9 1950 P. v. M GIVERN MULTIPLE ZONE CONTROL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 Filed March 9, 1945 x jf 7,590 INVENTOR.

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Patented May 9, 1950 MULTIPLE ZONE CONTROL APPARATUS Paul V. McGivern; Tulsa, Okla; assignor to Baker Oil Tools,- inc, "i/ernon, Califi, a corporation of California Application March -9, 1945; Serial him-581,896

6 Claims. (01. 166-2) 1 This invention relates to: apparatus for con-- trolling the production from a plurality of producing zones in an oil or gas well.

An object oi the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for selectively controlling:

fluid flow from a plurality oflproducing zones in a well bore-throug ha tubular string to thetop of the well bore.

A further object of the invention is to selectively and individually establish communication between a tubularconduit and either an upper or lower zonein a well bore, the'selection being determined by movement of theztubular conduit from the top of thewell bore.

Still another object of the invention is to effect selective control of fluid fiowinto a tubular conduit from high and low pressure producing zones in a well boreibyutilizing the pressure in the high pressure zone to prevent flow ot its fluid into the conduit when the low pressure zoneiis flowing into. the conduit, and to nullifylsuch effect of'pressure to permit the high-pressure zone to fiow into the tubular conduit whenfiowfrorrrthe low pres-. sure zone is prevented.

Another object of the invention isto provide an apparatus cooperablewith a well packer'to selectively and individually-control the flow of fluid into a tubular conduit from a plurality of producing-zones in a well loore separated-by the packer, in which the apparatus is adapted to be run into and removed from the well bore with the tubular conduit without disturbing the setting oi the packer in the wellbore.

Inits general aspects, the'in-vention contemplates a packer anchored in a casing or liner between upper-and lower producing'zones in a well bore; to prevent comingli-ng'oi the-fluids from the:

zones. A tubular production string or conduit is positioned-in the casing for cooperation with the well packer; and is providedwitha lateral passage-or side ports positioned above thewell packer in order that fluid can fiow from the upper zone into the tubular string. The tubular-string is also telescopic arrangement is, moreover," preferably order that ithe'tubular string may be rotated to connect or: disconnect it from the well packer. This arrangement enables: the tubular string or conduttato be lowered; through thewell bore and coupled to a'packer-alrea-dy positioned therein,

or removed from. the well bore Without disturbing the position of theipacker.

This invention has other objects which will become apparent from. a considerationof the various forms'of' apparatus shown in'the drawings accompanying; andiformingi' part of the present specification: These forms will now be described in detail, butrit is to Jbe:understoodthatsuch detailed. rdescription isrnot to be taken in a limited sense, sincethe scope of 'theinvention is best delined by the claims appendedhereto.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is alongitudinal View, partly in section and partly-in elevation; of one form ofthe app-aratus installed ina'cased well bore;

Figures 2; and 2d constituteca :cor'nbined'longitudinal :section; onanienlarged scale, of part of the apparatus shown: ln'Figurell;

Figure. 3; isJa. View similar'to: Figure 2 of the apparatus in: another operative position;

Figure 4 is. a cross section taken along the line 4 -4'in'Fi'gure 2;

Figure .5ris a cross-section taken along'the line 5r.5'.in FigureZ i' and Figure; 6 is aiview similar to Figure'l of a modified' form of theinventionl In the specific-embodiment:shown in Figures. lto 5; inclusive, thecontrolapparatus is designed to form part of a-tubular'string;Aby means ofwhich it is lowered or otherwise movable through a casing or linerBpositioned-in a well bore having a-pluralityrof longitudinally spaced producing: zones C, :Di' A paoker E' is anchored inthe.

casing or liner between these producing zones to "segregate the production" therefrom in .conjuncti'on with thecontrol apparatu's.

The packer Emay :beoi any" suitable construction, being shown for-illustrative purposes as a production 7 apparatus specifically described in United State's--Patent-No; 2,189Q703. It includes atubular'body W to WhiCh 'is secured an upper head H and-a-lowenguide' i2; and on which is mountedza packing member iii-to seal off against the casing q B and prevent fiowof "fluid between the bodyand casing; The packer-is anchored to'the casing against both downward and upward movement thereinby a set'of lower slips Moooperable with a. "lower conicalexpander I 5," and by a set of upper slips" lfi cooperable with an such as to furnish a, splined driving connection in upper conicalexp'ander I'L The control apparatus comprises a valve housing |8 coupled to the head portion of the production .packer through a left-handed threaded connection or the like 20. An outer barrel 2| is threaded in the top end of the valve housing and receives a tubular mandrel 22 whose upper head 23 is threadedly attached to the tubular string extending to the top of the well bore. The lower end of the mandrel 22 is in the form of a crow foot 24, welded or otherwise suitably attached to the remaining tubular part of the mandrel, having a plurality of outwardly extending keys 25 received in keyways or longitudinal grooves 26 formed in the outer barrel. The key and keyway arrangement forms a rotary coupling or slideable spline connection between the mandrel 22 and outer barrel 2|, to transmit rotary movement of the tubular string to the valve housing it in screwing or unscrewing the latter into or from the production packer E.

A packing box 21 threaded in the upper end of the outer barrel 2| contains a mandrel packing 28 urged into leakproof, slideable, sealing engagement with the outer surface of the mandral by a packing nut 29 threaded into the packing box 21. The mandrel has one or more passages in the form of side ports or lateral outlets 30 adapted to be positioned above the mandrel packing 2'8 and packing nut 29 to permit flow of fluid from the upper producing zone C through the casing or liner perforations 3| into the tubular string A for passage to the top of the well bore. Upon lowering of the tubing string and its mandrel 22 to a sufiicient extent, the side ports or lateral outlets 30 will be positioned within or below the mandrel packing 28 to close the ports or passages 30 against entry of fluid into the tubular string A from the upper producing zone C.

The valve housing |8 contains a valve cage 32 consisting essentially of an upper valve seat 33 and a spider 34 separated by longitudinal ribs 35. The valve cage 32 preferably rests upon a shoulder 36 at the lower portion of the valve housing l8, and is provided with opposed side seals 31, 38 at its upper end engaging the valve housing to prevent leakage of fluid past the exterior of the valve cage in both directions. The spider 34 serves as a support for a spring seat and guide 39 in which a valve stem 40 is longitudinally slideable. The upper end of the stem carries a valve head 4| engageable with the valve seat 33, and a side seal 42 may be secured in the head for contact with the seat to prevent undesired leakage in an upward direction between the head and seat when the valve is closed. A helical spring 43 extends between the spring seat 39 and the valve head 4| to urge the latter into engagement with its cooperable seat 33 and hold the valve in closed position.

The valve arrangement disclosed constitutes a back pressure device tending to prevent upward passage of fluid from the lower zone D through the packer E into the tubing string A. However, upon lowering of the tubular string and its connected mandrel 22 to a suflicient extent, the lower end 24 of the latter engages the valve head 4| and moves it downwardly from its seat 33 to open and ineffective position, thus permitting flow of fluid upwardly from the lower producing horizon D, through the production packer E, through the spider 34, between the ribs 35 and around the valve head 4|, between the outward diverging extensions 24a of the crow foot 24, into the mandrel 22 and production tubing thereabove.

The parts are preferably so arranged that when the tubular mandrel 22 is in an upper position, the side ports or passages 30 are open to the flow of fluid from the upper zone C, with the valve head 4| engaging its seat to prevent upward passage of fluid into the tubular string A from the lower zone D (as in Figure 2). Upon lowering of the tubing string A and its mandrel 22 to a sufficient extent, the side ports 30 will be positioned within or below the mandrel packing 28, with the mandrel crow foot 24 pressing the valve head 4| downwardly from its seat 33 against the action of the spring 43, thus closing the side ports 30 to the flow of fluid from the upper zone C, but permitting passage of fluid in an upward direction from the lower zone D through the open valve into the mandrel and tubular string (as in Figure 3).

The parts are also preferably arranged and proportioned in such manner that production from the upper zone C is shut off by passage of the side ports 39 completely into or below the mandrel packing 28 before the mandrel 22 opens the valve by displacing its head 4| from the seat 33. Similarly, the valve head 4| will be permitted to engage its seat under the influence of the helical spring 43, upon elevation of the tubular string A and connected mandrel 22, before the side ports 30 move above the mandrel packing 28 into communication with the upper zone C.

In the event that the packer E includes a back pressure valve member 44 and cooperable seat 45 on the packer guide |2, a tubular extension 46 depending from the valve housing I8 is provided to hold this lower back pressure valve 44, 45 in open position and allow the production to enter the extension or stinger 46 for passage into the valve housing l8. The provision of such a lower back pressure valve and tubular extension depending from the valve housing will have no effect upon the operation of the control mechanism in the manner described above.

As further assurance against leakage of fluid from the upper zone C into the tubular string A when the tubing string and its mandrel are lowered, a mandrel head seal 4'! can be located at the upper end of the packing nut 29 for engagement by the lower end of the mandrel head 23. This arrangement provides two seals against leakage of fluid from the upper zone C, one furnished by the mandrel packing 28 itself, and the other by the upper mandrel head seal 41.

The tubular string A, including the mandrel 22, outer barrel 2| and valve housing 8, may be lowered as a unit into the well to the position at which the production packer E has previously been set. If a left-hand threaded connection 20 is provided at the upper end of the packer, the tubing string is rotated to the left to thread the valve housing It into the packer, the splined connection 25, 26 between mandrel 22 and the outer barrel 2| transmitting the required rotary movement of the mandrel to the valve housing. Such coupling of the valve housing and the outer barrel to the production packer permits th telescopic longitudinal movement of the valve mandrel 22 within the outer barrel 2| to selectively expose the ports 30 to the flow of fluid from the upper zone C or to place the ports below the mandrel packing 28 with the mandrel crow foot 24 holding the back pressure valve 4| open, in order to permit flow from the lower zone D into the tubular string. If it is desired to remove the tubular string and its control apparatus from the well bore, the entire tubing string can be rotated to the right to unscrew the valve housing I8 from the packer- E and permit, elevation of the entir device tothe top of thewell bore.

Another modifioationof the invention is. shown in Figure 6, inwhioh the valve 44' at. the low r end of the production packer, isutilized al e for pr v ntin upward passage offluid from th lower zone D. into, the tubular string. A. Ins a of having the valve housin l8, he. outer ba rel 2 i, is threaded directly or; indirectlyinto the upper end H of the productionpaols n. The extensi n 48 dependin from the alve man l 2 s on enough tov move the flapper valve 44, or oth r Valve, at the lower end. oftheproduction packer E to open position upon lowering of the tubing string, A and mandrel 2.2 sufficiently to place the side ports 3!) below the mandrel packing 28, or in closed position.

In, the modification justdescribed, the general operation of the device is substantially the same as in the first modification, with the exception that a fixed tubular or other extension to depending from the valve housing 18 is not required to keep the flapper valve 44 at the lower end of the packing open at all times. In both modifications, removal of the tubing string A and its control apparatus from connection with the well packer E and its withdrawal to the top of the well bore will permit the spring 49 at the lower end of the production packer to close the flapper valve 44- and prevent the production from the lower zone D from passing upwardly into and through the well packer E.

It is, therefore, apparent that a, control apparatus has been provided for determining the flow of fluid between a tubing string and upper and lower zones in a well bore. The production into the tubing string is individual and selective from either the upper zone or the lower zone, and production from the upper zone through proper manipulation of the tubing string automatically effects closing of the production from the lower zone. Usually, the apparatus is employed in a relation in which the formation pressure in the lower zone is higher than that in the upper zone, so that such formation pressure assists the helical spring 63 or valve spring 49 at the lower end of the production packer in closing the valve and holding it closed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for controlling the flow of fluids in a well bore having upper and lower zones, including a packer in said Well bore positioned between said zones, a tubular conduit whose lower portion comprises upper and lower members telescopically arranged one within the other, said lower member being coupled to said packer and said upper member to an upper portion of said tubular conduit extending to the top of the well bore, one of said members havin passage means for conducting fluid between said upper zone and interior of said conduit, cooperable means on said members for selectively opening and closing said passage means upon longitudinal movement of said upper member by said conduit string relative to said lower member, a valve for controlling flow of fluid through said packer between said lower zone and the interior of said conduit, means securing said valve in fixed position with respect to said packer, and means on said upper member engageable with said valve to effect its opening upon longitudinal movement of said upper member by said conduit string relative to said lower member in a direction to close said passage means and to efiect its closing upon longitudinal movemen ofi sa d honor. meme. her by. said conduit string relative toaidl w member in another direction toopensaidwrassa o means.

An apparatus for con rolling h flQW: Q2 fluids in a well bore having-uppe and ower-zones, inc udi a packer in, said w ll b re p s tioned be.- tween said zones, a tubular conduit whose lower portion comp es upper and lowe mem ers ta e: soopieally arran ed one within h ther, said lower member being coupled to said packer and; said upper member to an upper portignof said tubular conduit, one of said members haying means for conducting, fluid between said upper zone and interior of said conduit, c0911: eralole means on sa d m mb rs or c os n a d passage means upon downward movemenoof said upper me b la i e o said w r member and for p n n said pas ge an 1201. 1 ward movement of said upper member relative to said lower member, a downward y opening valve for controlling flow of fluid through said packer between said lower zone and interior of said con-i means on said upper memberengageable with said valve to'move it downwardly to O: to position upon downward movement of said upper member relative to said lowermember to close said passage means.

3. An apparatus f0, iontroll-ingthe flow of fluid in a well bore having upperand lower zones, including a packer in said well bore positioned between said zones, a tubular conduit whose lower portion comprises inner and outer members telescopically arranged with respect to one another, said outer member being coupled to said packer and said inner member to an upper portion of said tubular conduit, said inner member having a port above said packer for conducting fluid between said upper zone and interior of said conduit, cooperable means on said members for closing said port upon downward movement of said inner member relative to said outer member and for opening said port upon upward movement of said inner member relative to said outer member, a downwardly opening valve in said apparatus for controlling flow of fluid through said packer between said lower zone and interior of said conduit, and means on said inner member engageable with said valve to shift it downwardly to open position upon downward movement of said inner member.

4. An apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid in a well bore having upper and lower zones, including a packer in said well bore positioned between said zones, a tubular conduit whose lower portion comprises upper and lower members telescopically splined to one another, said lower member being threadedly attached to said packer and said upper member being secured to an upper portion of said tubular conduit, one of said members having passage means for conducting fluid between said upper zone and interior of said conduit, cooperable means on said members for closing said passage means upon downward movement of said upper member relative to said lower member and for opening said passage means upon upward movement of said upper member relative to said lower member, a downwardly opening valve in said apparatus for controlling flow of fluid through said packer between said lower zone and interior of said conduit, and means on said upper member engageable with said valve to shift it to open position upon downward movement of said upper member to a position closing said pas- 76 sage means, movement of said upper member in an upward direction allowing said valve to close.

5. Flow control apparatus adapted to be positioned in a well bore, including a tubular conduit having upper and lower members telescopically arranged one within the other, said upper member having passage means for conducting fluid between the exterior of said conduit and the interior of said upper member, cooperable means on said members for selectively opening or closing said passage means upon movement of said upper member by said conduit string relative to said lower member, a valve for controlling flow of fluid interiorly of said conduit, means securing said valve in fixed position with respect to said lower member, and means on said upper member engageable with said valve to shift said valve to open position upon longitudinal movement of said upper member in one direction relative to said lower member to open said passage means, said means on said upper member allowing said valve to close upon longitudinal movement of said upper member in another direction relative to said lower member to a position opening said assage means.

6. Flow control apparatus adapted to be positioned in a well bore, including a tubular conduit having upper and lower members telescopically arranged one within the other, one of said members providing a passage for conducting fluid be tween the exterior of said conduit and the interior .of said upper member, cooperable means on said members for closing said passage means upon downward movement of said upper member by said tubular conduit relative to said lower memher and for opening said passage means upon upward movement of said upper member relative to said lower member, a downwardly opening valve in said lower member for controlling upward flow of fiuid through said conduit, and means on said upper member engageable with said valve to hold said valve in open position upon downward movement of said upper member relative to said lower member, movement of said upper member in an upward direction relative to said lower member allowing said valve to close.

PAUL V. McGIVERN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,124,445 Kemp et a1 Jan. 12, 1915 2,143,251 Savitz Jan. 10, 1939 2,189,703 Burt et al Feb. 6, 1940 2,196,664 Kofahl Apr. 9, 1940 2,277,380 Yancey Mar. 24, 1942 2,304,303 Ferguson Dec. 13, 1942 2,368,428 Saurenman Jan. 30, 1945 2,397,473 Crowell Apr. 2, 1946 

